Rest & Reset Retreat
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
July 9-14, 2026
Slow yourself down.
Take time to reflect.
Reconnect with yourself or with others.
Hit pause, rest and reset at Stowel Lake Farm nestled amidst the serene beauty of Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.
🌿 Retreat Details:
Dates: Join us Thursday, July 9 through
Tuesday, July 14
Location: Stowel Lake Farm
Stowel Lake Farm is a thriving organic farm, retreat center and community on Salt Spring Island, BC.
Proximity:
FLY: Both Harbour Air and Sea Air offer a variety of flights directly to the island. If traveling from the US, Kenmore air can get you to Victoria or Vancouver before connecting to Harbour or Sea Air for flights to Salt Spring.
DRIVE: The next fastest way is by catching a BC Ferry from Vancouver, BC or Victoria (Sydney), BC to either Long Harbour or Fulford Harbour. However, if you're coming from Galiano, it's faster to kayak to Southey Point and then hitch hike south.
Carpooling options from Washington State and Vancouver, BC may be available. Please ask Joanna!
ON FOOT? If arriving without a car (by air or ferry), limited shuttles to the retreat center are available.
Why Choose this Rest and Reset Retreat?
Accommodations: There are a variety of accommodations ranging from private suites to shared rooms to yurts, and there is also plenty of open field for tents. One or two camper van/RV spots are also available.
Nature's Haven: While on retreat, guests are welcome to roam the grounds, linger in the gardens and to explore the hillside. There are plenty of communal indoor and outdoor spaces where groups can gather, but there are also quiet benches for solitude. The market gardens, perennial garden, orchard and permaculture hillside are interspersed with wild areas for big trees and native plants.
Yoga & Meditation: Reignite your inner light with daily yoga and meditation sessions led by Joanna. Joanna and guest instructors will offer daily workshops.
Creativity: Bring your creative project. Knitting, collaging, painting, sketching, color-booking, playing music, singing and dancing. There will be ample time and space to explore your creative side.
Silence: Part of our third day together you will have the option to spend in silence. This is completely optional. Even a few hours of silence will allow for a time of deeper reflection and awareness.
Delicious Meals:
For 2025 retreat participants, all said that the food was one of the highlights of their retreat!
Stowel Lake Farm cuisine is fresh, organic and made from whole food ingredients. The meal plan is vegetarian (includes dairy and eggs). The talented kitchen team can accommodate many dietary restrictions including dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan.
Meals are farm-to-table and feature home grown fresh organic produce from the gardens and greenhouses. The daily menu depends on the season, in particular whatever is ready to be harvested, and the chef’s preference. The meals change day-to-day and the kitchen team works closely with the farm team to get a pulse for the land’s bounty.
Meals are served buffet-style and guests can dine indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather.
Pricing:
Double Occupancy Room w/ Private Bath: Starting at $2145 per person
Double Occupancy Room w/ Shared Bath: Starting at $1495 per person
Single Occupancy Room w/ Shared Bath: $2295 per person
Double Occupancy Yurt (Shared Bathhouse): $1695 per person
Tent Camping, RV or Camper (Shared Bathhouse): $1295 per person
Single occupancy room w/ Private Bath or Single Occupancy Yurt (shared bath) - $700 upgrade. Very limited availability.
Save $200 off the above prices when you make your $500 deposit by April 1, 2026!
How to book:
To hold your spot for this yoga retreat, pay your non-refundable deposit of $500 below. If you require a specific room arrangement, please contact Joanna to confirm availability prior to making your deposit.
Please Note: The remaining balance due will be divided into three to six monthly payments, charged automatically to your credit card beginning one month from your deposit payment. Those registering within two months of the retreat date will pay in full. As payments are made, they become non-refundable and non-transferrable. Please purchase trip insurance to keep your investment in case of cancellation.
Please contact Joanna to select and book your room by emailing her at [email protected] or by filling out the form below. Need a roommate? We can probably match you with another lovely person!
Reserve Your Spot Now!
Spaces for our Nourish and Nurture Retreat are limited, so don't miss out on this opportunity to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit. Secure your spot today and embark on a journey of self-care and discovery.
You can read more about why the journey to the retreat is all part of the experience HERE.
What’s Included:
Five nights lodging at beautiful and peaceful Stowel Lake Farm
Farm-to-table vegetarian meals Thursday dinner through Tuesday lunch
Twice daily yoga and meditation with Joanna or other guest teachers
Limited shuttle availability from harbors for those arriving without a car by ferry or air
Additional group sessions with Joanna and guest teachers (workshops)
What’s Not Included:
Transportation (other than limited shuttles)
Massage (can be scheduled onsite)
Private sessions with Joanna (yoga, meditation, coaching - limited availability)
More details!
About Stowel Lake Farm:
The Stowel Lake Farm community is made up of approximately 25 people, 5 dogs, and 7 cats, who have lived together for varying lengths of time.
The land is family-owned and the rest of the folks that live here each have arrangements with the farm. Some work in the kitchen, some in the mill, and some in the gardens.
Learn more about the history of Stowel Lake Farm and its unique community here.
How To Get To Stowell Lake Farm:
Take the ferry from Tsawwassen/Vancouver or Swartz Bay/Victoria, you’ll find more details HERE
There are flights from Richmond (Vancouver International), Victoria or Vancouver to Salt Spring Island. Details of flights with Harbour Air are HERE.
Sea Air details can be found HERE
Tentative Daily Itinerary
6:00am - 6:45am Morning Meditation (Light instruction provided)
7am - 8:15 am Morning Practice (all levels inclusive - active)
8:30am Breakfast
10am - Optional morning workshops on select days (topics TBD)
12:30pm Lunch
4:15pm - 5:45pm Afternoon practice (all levels inclusive - somatics/restorative)
6:00pm Dinner
7:45pm - 8:15pm Evening Meditation (Metta/Lovingkindness, Guided Yoga Nidra)
During free time: Explore Salt Spring by bicycle. Go for one of the many walks or hikes in nearby parks. Go on an art studio tour. Visit the many shops or go to the famous Saturday Farmer’s Market in Ganges Harbour. Walk to Salt Spring Cheese for a tasting (10 minutes). Walk to Weston Lake for a dip in the cool fresh water (20 minutes). Head to a beach to comb and go tidepooling. Sign up for a kayak tour. Or simply rest, be quiet and still, journal or be creative. Enjoy the beauty of the grounds.
As with all retreats with Joanna, everything is optional. You are invited to listen deeply and take care of your needs moment-by-moment, day-by-day, always staying in tune with your intention(s) for your retreat.
Read more on the blog about traveling to a yoga retreat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Salt Spring Island?
Salt Spring Island is part of the Southern Gulf Islands in British Columbia. To get there from Washington State, most people drive across the border and catch the ferry at Tswwassen. It's also possible to arrive without a car on foot through Victoria, BC or by flying. Many people coming from Central Washington stayed for a night in Bellingham or Anacortes to break up the trip and make a morning ferry.
What makes Stowel Lake Farm unique?
Stowel Lake Farm is a working organic farm with an emphasis on permaculture. The food that you eat while on retreat - much of it comes straight from the farm. The founder, Lisa, and her daughter live on the property along with a multi-generational community of residents, many of whom work on the farm or at the retreat center. When we are on retreat at SLF, we are guests of the community.
What did people most enjoy about the venue?
The yoga studio is spacious and light with plenty of yoga props. The accommodation options include rooms with private baths, rooms with shared baths, yurts and even camping and RV sites. The property is incredibly beautiful with an extensive perennial garden with nooks to sit with a book or journal and have quiet reflection time. More than anything, participants raved about the food - one person claimed that the muffins were the best he'd ever had - without knowing that they were gluten-free!
What else is there to do on Salt Spring Island?
Although my intention with this "Rest and Reset" retreat is really for participants to take time to be still and enjoy the quiet of the retreat center, there are options for explorations on Salt Spring such as kayaking and hiking. Known for its thriving community of artists, there are plenty of studios and galleries to explore. If you arrive without a car, it's likely that you can carpool for one of these excursions.